New Delhi: India said Thursday that diplomatic dialogue could be the only way out of the stand-off with China in Ladakh, where disengagement efforts have failed to resolve tensions in the Depsang Plains and Pangong lake areas. However, New Delhi stressed that the effort should be mutual.
Both India and China have agreed to resolve all outstanding issues in an “expeditious manner” and in accordance with the existing agreements and protocols, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Anurag Srivastava said Thursday at the weekly government briefing.
Citing External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar’s interview this week to a media outlet, Srivastava said, “I would also refer you to the recent interview of External Affairs Minister wherein, referring to various past border incidents, he had noted that what was common was that all borders situations were resolved through diplomacy.”
The minister, Srivastava added, had further noted that “when it comes to finding a solution, this must be predicated on honouring all agreements and understandings, and not attempting to alter the status quo unilaterally”.
The MEA’s statement came days after Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Bipin Rawat said India has “military options” to deal with China on the issue of transgressions even as he made it clear that they will only be exercised if talks at the military and diplomatic levels fail.
‘Agreed to resolve outstanding tensions’
New Delhi and Beijing have held several rounds of negotiations — at the diplomatic as well as the military level — to resolve border tensions that started with Chinese transgressions in Ladakh this May. The tensions even sparked clashes between the two sides at Galwan Valley on 15 June, which led to the death of 20 Indian soldiers and an unconfirmed number of fatalities for the People’s Liberation Army.
The last round of diplomatic talks took place on 20 August under the Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination (WMCC) on India-China border affairs, one of the bilateral frameworks instituted to resolve tensions.
The MEA had said after the talks that the sides had had a “candid and in-depth” exchange of views on the present situation at the LAC, and agreed to resolve outstanding issues in an “expeditious manner”.
At the briefing Thursday, Srivastava invoked the earlier statement and stated, “As I had conveyed earlier, complete disengagement requires re-deployment of troops by each side towards their regular posts on their respective sides of the LAC. It is natural that this can be done only through mutually agreed reciprocal actions. Thus it is important to bear in mind that achieving this requires agreed actions by both sides.
“In this context, in the last meeting of the WMCC, the two sides have agreed to resolve the outstanding issues in an expeditious manner and in accordance with the existing agreements and protocols.”
Kamala Harris and major Dems fall silent…
06-11-2024
Kamala Harris has not spoken yet and neither conceded the election. Harris canceled her Election Night speech and all major Democrats and Dem social media handles fell silent. "All...
Read more'Project 2025 was real the whole time' p…
06-11-2024
Project 2025 resurfaced as the talking point after Donald Trump claimed victory in an election which was thought closer than a coin toss. Project 2025 was a 900-page policy wish...
Read more'12 hours of powers cuts daily': Karachi…
06-11-2024
Karachi residents protested against daily 12-hour power outages and resulting water shortages, claiming inaction by authorities despite numerous complaints. Adding to their woes, NEPRA announced an electricity rate hike...
Read more'I'm gonna f**k you up': Cardi B's meltd…
06-11-2024
Cardi B hurled abuses and broke down during an Instagram live when a fan asked her to be present at the Trump inauguration. “I swear to god I’m gonna f**k...
Read moreMoo Deng's Trump's victory prediction in…
06-11-2024
Moo Deng, a beloved pygmy hippo in Thailand, has become the latest animal oracle to weigh in on the 2024 US election. In a video that went viral, Moo Deng...
Read moreWhen Donald Trump explained how his youn…
06-11-2024
All the Trumps are tall including Melania but Barron's height is shocking and he clearly dominates the room he's in because of his height. His father did not miss a...
Read moreTrump praises vice president-elect JD Va…
06-11-2024
Donald Trump claimed victory in the 2024 US presidential election, with projections showing him defeating Democratic opponent Kamala Harris. Addressing supporters in Florida, he celebrated the win alongside his...
Read more'Powerful recommitment to great alliance…
06-11-2024
Israel's right-wing government welcomed Donald Trump's US election win. The government sees it as positive for Israeli-American relations. Trump has pledged strong support for Israel, particularly in the current Middle...
Read moreWhat happens to Donald Trump's criminal …
06-11-2024
Former US President Donald Trump is facing multiple criminal charges, including federal and state cases. A potential second term could impact these cases, potentially halting or dismissing some due to...
Read moreUS election results: Harris vs Trump – W…
06-11-2024
Donald Trump is on the verge of winning the 2024 US presidential election, securing victories in key battleground states like Georgia and North Carolina. While Pennsylvania remains a crucial tipping...
Read morePennsylvania election results: Trump win…
05-11-2024
Former US President Donald Trump's victory in North Carolina intensifies the battle for the White House, with Pennsylvania emerging as the crucial swing state. Holding a significant 19 electoral votes...
Read moreCalifornia election results: Kamala Harr…
05-11-2024
Kamala Harris has won California, securing its 54 electoral votes and a major victory in the 2024 presidential election. Harris's win continues a trend of Democratic dominance in the...
Read moreEconomy, Democracy, Abortion: Key issues…
05-11-2024
Early exit polls reveal that the state of democracy is the top concern for most voters in the US presidential election. Abortion and the economy are also key issues. The...
Read moreAs Americans vote, it's guns out in Amer…
05-11-2024
With a deeply divided America bracing for the presidential election results, concerns are rising about the potential for political violence. The US already witnessed a surge in such incidents this...
Read moreUS election highlights: Harris cancels s…
05-11-2024
Former President Donald Trump and vice president Kamala Harris faced off in a pivotal election that drew millions of voters. Trump secured early victories in Indiana and Kentucky, while Harris...
Read morePhiladelphia police say they don't know …
05-11-2024
The Philadelphia Police Department told CNN that they were not aware of what Donald Trump referred to in his post as massive cheating and they did not know of any...
Read moreGoogle clarifies why it's showing 'where…
05-11-2024
"The 'where to vote' panel is triggering for some specific searches [because] Harris is also the name of a county in [Texas]," Google said in a statement. "Fix is coming...
Read more